Illini Women's Basketball 2023-2024

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#256      
GILL-INOIS
Luckily a game like this only counts as 1 loss

Think we went something like 10-1 in non-conference play against cupcakes last season. Started the season 14-2 and 4-1 in the Big Ten. Finished out the last 2 months going 8-8 overall(7-6 in conference play, 1-1 in conference tourney, 0-1 in NCAA Tourney).

This season we have won the games we should by a decent amount and lost the games we were underdogs. 5-2 in non-conference play with games against Missouri, Arkansas and UTEP coming up in a 5 day period. It would definitely help the non-conference resume if we sweep these games. I am not down on this team at all just a similar feel to the one from last season. We have to win against the .500 and below teams in conference with a few upsets along the way. We are in paradise compared to where this program has been in the past. I think the future is real bright for this program.....JMO but I see next season being the one where we make more noise. It just takes time to build/grow a program.....enjoying mainly just the ups so far since Green took over.
 
#257      
thehass
Dismal performance. Don't know what all is wrong but the magic of last year has yet to arrive. they looked slow and out of sync against ND when they lost handily. I know when shots aren't falling you tend to look bad but defense and rebounding have no excuse.
 
#259      
uofi7477
Illiniindian said:
I happen to be a huge fan of the women’s team and am very bummed about their start.
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I can't explain their lack of effort against a very good Michigan team on Sunday, but they were missing a key piece of the team for several of the earlier games with an injury, and probably still gelling somewhat with the newcomers. I have a great deal of confidence that Coach Green will get the team going.
 
#260      
Illiniindian
uofi7477 said:
I can't explain their lack of effort against a very good Michigan team on Sunday, but they were missing a key piece of the team for several of the earlier games with an injury, and probably still gelling somewhat with the newcomers. I have a great deal of confidence that Coach Green will get the team going.
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Agree with everything posted, but the game was a complete blowout. I was really thinking this might be a top 15 team. Now, I will be happy with an NCAA spot.
 
#261      
GILL-INOIS
Illiniindian said:
Agree with everything posted, but the game was a complete blowout. I was really thinking this might be a top 15 team. Now, I will be happy with an NCAA spot.
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This was my feeling from the start of the season

The team last year won a few quality games at most. We were a borderline tourney team last season and I see the same this season. I don't view this as a bad thing. Things are moving in the right direction whether we make the tourney or WNIT.
 
#262      
Illiniindian
GILL-INOIS said:
This was my feeling from the start of the season

The team last year won a few quality games at most. We were a borderline tourney team last season and I see the same this season. I don't view this as a bad thing. Things are moving in the right direction whether we make the tourney or WNIT.
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Yep, but I won’t forget that win against Iowa..
That was real nice. But yes, they are moving in the right direction.
 
#266      
The Galloping Ghost
Tied up at 44 after three. We have an absolute battle on our hands. Last year, we were one of the best shooting teams in the country. This year, our shooting at all three levels has been markedly worse. It's maddening. Desperately need to hit our open shots.
 
#267      
The Galloping Ghost
Jada with the in and out three to tie with 17 seconds left. Brutal. That one is going to cost us. Not great defense and rebounding in the final two quarters after a decent start. Couldn’t stop Dembele from getting to the basket. Didn’t get to any 50-50 balls when the game was on the line.

Gen at least came back strong after the 0 against Michigan. Her four 3s in the 4th kept us in it. Bummed by how short our bench still is. Thought we added some decent pieces in the off-season, but alas. Really need the next one against Arkansas and to get on track.
 
#268      
JimILL75
Our guards that carried us last year, not shooting as well this year. Cooking being injured changed this team and we have not got that swagger back yet. I would have liked to see one or both of our freshman guards get a chance this game. Coach Green knows best so we live and die with a team not playing its best yet
 
#271      
pruman91
IMHO , this loss can be summed up by the confusing defensive scheme that had Gen guarding the misery PG and then floating into the paint leaving their PG open and able to drive at will......Their PG had a career high in points game and had free rein on offense that had me yelling at the TV screen for someone to actually guard her.....but time and time again after the PG passed the ball , Gen would float down into the paint in a help defensive posture and that allowed the PG to get the ball back without any pressure on her AT ALL.....

Was a very winnable game , especially when we went up by 10 , then the PG started to realize she was wide open and her confidence was boosted by a few drives to the rim for buckets......

Once again , strange defense played and it led to our defeat , IMHO............
 
#272      
GILL-INOIS
I agree with a number of takes on here


I am not going to question Shauna Green but she played a tight bench last season until injuries and Big Ten season. It is quite telling that she hasn't used more of the bench in competitive games. I look for it to change but the more practices all the FR/transfers get in the better.

Post play is a real concern again this season. Outside of Bostic on the offensive and defensive end I don't think we have one other consistent post player on this team. Multiple times in the post yesterday a Missouri player either got better leverage in the post or the Illini defender was playing them in front with no help from the back. Missouri also drew Bostic away from the basket on defense a bunch of times especially in the 2nd half. Missouri made some nice shots but by drawing Bostic away from the hoop that gave Missouri the option to shoot from outside or feed it inside with our best post defender out of position.

This team is easy to scout so far. Bryant is outside shooter, Cook can shoot but more dangerous when penetrates into the lane, McKenzie is aggressive, Bostic is utility knife and Shoup-Hill is outside shooter. Outside of Bostic we have no post game on the offensive end. Shoup-Hill looks lost in the post and it showed yesterday. The problem I have is if we are a jump shooting team than we need to crash the boards. Outside of Bostic/McKenzie I don't see Shoup-Hill, Bryant or Cook crashing the boards. I am just stating these names since majority of playing time is with the starters. Bryant got one offensive board on a miss she attempted in the lane that came right back to her. Bryant/Cook played almost the entire game and scored 29 points with one offensive rebound and no free throw attempts.

Defensively I think the ladies are aggressive but a ton of breakdowns at most positions. Green is trying to play her best players right now and a lot of time that means starting Shoup-Hill but taking her out and rotating McKenzie/Peebles who are both undersized to the 4 spot. I hate to say this but I think McKenzie is a more effective post player at 5'10 than Shoup-Hill at 6'3. Hopefully we can get more bodies into the rotation as the season progresses even if for a short breather for Bostic.

Big Ten teams should watch the tape of taking Bostic away from the hoop. Adjustments will need to be made or we will get exposed against better teams in conference play.
 
#273      
thehass
GILL-INOIS said:
I agree with a number of takes on here


I am not going to question Shauna Green but she played a tight bench last season until injuries and Big Ten season. It is quite telling that she hasn't used more of the bench in competitive games. I look for it to change but the more practices all the FR/transfers get in the better.

Post play is a real concern again this season. Outside of Bostic on the offensive and defensive end I don't think we have one other consistent post player on this team. Multiple times in the post yesterday a Missouri player either got better leverage in the post or the Illini defender was playing them in front with no help from the back. Missouri also drew Bostic away from the basket on defense a bunch of times especially in the 2nd half. Missouri made some nice shots but by drawing Bostic away from the hoop that gave Missouri the option to shoot from outside or feed it inside with our best post defender out of position.

This team is easy to scout so far. Bryant is outside shooter, Cook can shoot but more dangerous when penetrates into the lane, McKenzie is aggressive, Bostic is utility knife and Shoup-Hill is outside shooter. Outside of Bostic we have no post game on the offensive end. Shoup-Hill looks lost in the post and it showed yesterday. The problem I have is if we are a jump shooting team than we need to crash the boards. Outside of Bostic/McKenzie I don't see Shoup-Hill, Bryant or Cook crashing the boards. I am just stating these names since majority of playing time is with the starters. Bryant got one offensive board on a miss she attempted in the lane that came right back to her. Bryant/Cook played almost the entire game and scored 29 points with one offensive rebound and no free throw attempts.

Defensively I think the ladies are aggressive but a ton of breakdowns at most positions. Green is trying to play her best players right now and a lot of time that means starting Shoup-Hill but taking her out and rotating McKenzie/Peebles who are both undersized to the 4 spot. I hate to say this but I think McKenzie is a more effective post player at 5'10 than Shoup-Hill at 6'3. Hopefully we can get more bodies into the rotation as the season progresses even if for a short breather for Bostic.

Big Ten teams should watch the tape of taking Bostic away from the hoop. Adjustments will need to be made or we will get exposed against better teams in conference play.
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Also need to avoid ill advised passes. Some turnovers were silly.
 
#274      
ptgrd23
What happened to Camille Hobby

6 minutes vs Michigan
DNP vs Missouri
 
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